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At thirty-one years of age, New England Patriot Tedy Bruschi had just helped the Patriots win their third of the previous four Super Bowls and been selected to his sport's all-star game, the Pro Bowl. At the peak of his physical powers, the linebacker never imagined he was a candidate for stroke. Now, as the first stroke survivor to return to a career in professional football, Bruschi is using his celebrity to raise awareness about the leading cause of disability in the U.S.

A number of recent studies have suggested that following a Mediterranean-style diet can lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation in the body, and protect against conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia. Learn the basics of eating Mediterranean and try our delicious recipe for Sicilian-style tuna. For more brainfriendly recipes, go to neurologynow.com.

You can—and should—speak to your children about your neurological condition. Even if they're too young to understand everything about multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, head injury, muscular dystrophy, or migraine, you probably won't be able to hide it from them. And there's no reason to. Here's how to open the lines of communication.